Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks on Rent Freeze Ruling

March 28, 2017

Video available at: http://youtu.be/OdyA0JhwpOs

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Well, thank you, everyone. Thank you for being here. Thank you, Ivan, for your leadership protecting affordable housing for the community. Look, everyone, we have something to celebrate tonight, and I am so glad to have everyone here because it’s a big moment for New York City.

The rent freeze – the rent freeze that has reached almost 2.5 million people – it was challenged by the landlord lobby. They used all of their power, all of their legal resources to try and stop us from giving a rent freeze that people deserve. Well, the bottom line is, everyone out there who’s watching right now who knows how tough it is to make ends meet in New York City, everyone who has struggled to pay the rent – here’s the good news – the people won and the landlords lost.

[Applause]

For 2.5 million people, the rent freeze remains in place, and we are so proud of this fact. I have to tell you, it’s very clear – people think when you're up against very powerful forces with lots of money, a lot of times the little guy loses. Well, we’re not surprised at the notion that when a rent freeze was put in place – it didn’t surprise us that the landlords would take us to court – it didn’t surprise us at all. But, do you know what the court said? The court put the tenants needs ahead of the landlord’s greed. 

So, the good guys won this one because the court understood that the city had every right to ask the question – how much does it cost to provide the housing? How much does it cost? What does it mean to the tenants? We have to take into account what tenants go through as well as what it means to landlords to run these buildings. The court looked at all of the facts, and the court was clear that this rent freeze was fair, it was right, it was just. It’s another example of how we say to the people of this city, we’re going to make sure this city remains affordable for everyone. This is your city. You have a right to be here. You have a right to know that you can have a place that you can afford to live in.

Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the people who did this work – our Law Department of the City. I want to thank our Corporation Counsel Zach Carter, and the woman who argued the case of the city and won – Emily Stitelman, congratulations to you.

[Applause]

I want to thank all of the wonderful people here – all of the tenants who are benefiting from this rent freeze and are here because it’s made a difference in your life. I particularly want to thank one of the tenant leaders with us, Maritza Ramos, for her leadership.

Unknown: Rojas.

Mayor: There you go – Rojas, my apology. Lo siento.

[Laughter] 

But here’s what it came down to – you know, the landlords kept arguing for more and more increases. For years, they got disproportionately large increases and the needs of the people, the needs of tenants didn’t get as much attention. But here’s the problem – in the last few years, the cost of running the buildings went down. In fact, the cost of fuel – last year, the cost of fuel went down 41 percent. So, the facts were very clear why a rent freeze was justified. But we’re never surprised when people get greedy and they want to make more and more profits. This case was about profits versus people. But, for once, the people won, the people were more important than profits, and it makes a huge difference in people’s lives. 

This now makes clear once and for all that the Rent Guidelines Board was right to consider all of these factors – and they did it the right way, and that’s how they’re going to keep doing things in the years ahead. 

Look, this is one piece of the equation, but it’s a big one. We’re a city of 8.5 million people – almost 2.5 million live in rent stabilized apartments that have benefited from this rent freeze. So, a huge piece of New York City is affected by this important court decision, but there’s more we’ve got to do. We’re moving forward with our affordable housing plan – 200,000 apartments enough for half-a-million people. We’re moving forward to make sure, with the City Council, that there will be access to counsel for anyone facing eviction. We’re moving forward on something we need your help on in Albany – the mansion tax. 

[Applause]

Call the Governor. Call the State Senate. Let them know we need the mansion tax so 25,000 more senior citizens can get affordable housing in this city.

We’re going to keep fighting to make sure it is a city for everyone and to remind everyone – this is your city, you deserve a good place to live.

Just quickly in Spanish before I turn to my colleagues –

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish]

With that, it is my pleasure to turn to Councilmember Mark Levine. We’re in his district. He’s been a great advocate for tenants, a great advocate for getting those legal services to stop eviction. Councilmember Mark Levine – 

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And now, also from this wonderful part of Manhattan, and another great leader on behalf of tenants – Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez. 

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Now, the chair of the Housing Committee – all the way from Brooklyn – Councilmember Jumaane Williams.

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Well, I just want to say to everyone, now that we have this victory, let’s go onto Albany and get the next victory on the mansion tax so we can –

[Applause]

– Get affordable housing for 25,000 senior citizens who need it. Let’s ask those who are wealthy and buying very expensive homes to give a us a little bit more in taxes so we can help senior citizens to get affordable housing.

With that, congratulations to everyone. Felicidades a todos.